Robert Morris Drops Varsity Hockey Programs

 

The plug has been abruptly pulled on both the Robert Morris University men's and women's hockey programs.

The university announced on Wednesday that both programs were being discontinued immediately as part of a "series of strategic initiatives."

RMU began play in NCAA Division I men's hockey in 2004-05, and skated all 17 of its seasons under head coach Derek Schooley (Western Michigan). Under his tutelage the Colonials won 275 games, and claimed three Atlantic Hockey regular-season crowns, including this season. They also made the NCAA tournament in 2014 after winning the league playoff title that year, but fell to Minnesota in the first round.

The RMU women's team got started in 2005-06 and played in the NCAA tournament this past season after winning the College Hockey America conference, although the Colonials fell in the first round of the NCAAs to eventual national runner-up Northeastern. RMU also qualified for the national tournament in 2017, and altogether won a combined six CHA regular-season and postseason championships, while recording a total of 240 victories all-time, under four different head coaches.

RMU becomes the first men's Division I hockey program to be discontinued since Wayne State did so in 2008, although Alabama-Huntsville and Alaska Anchorage are both on hiatus for the 2021-22 campaign and may not return. The Colonials are the first women's Division I hockey outfit to fold since North Dakota dropped its women's program in 2017.

RMU, which is located in Moon Township, Pa. outside Pittsburgh, is expected to retain control of the Colonials home ice of Clearview Arena in Neville Island, Pa., and is also expected to retain its three ACHA men's club teams.

Former NCAA Players Shine in NHL Playoffs

Former NCAA players came through again on Monday night in the first round of the NHL's 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Kyle Connor (Michigan) scored early in the third overtime to lift the Winnipeg Jets to a 4-3 win over the visiting Edmonton Oilers, and a sweep of that four-game series. Mason Appleton (Michigan State) also scored for the Jets, who will play the winner of Montreal-Toronto.

Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville) stopped 38 shots as the visiting Minnesota Wild defeated the Vegas Golden Knights, 4-2, to stave off elimination in Game Five of that best-of-seven series. Zach Parise (North Dakota), Jordan Greenway (Boston University) and Nico Strum (Clarkson) scored goals for Minnesota, while Alec Martinez (Miami) had a goal for Vegas.

Lastly, after surrendering an early goal to Ross Colton (Vermont) on the first shot he faced, Spencer Knight (Boston College) stopped the next 36 shots in his first career professional postseason start to keep the Florida Panthers alive with a 4-1 win over the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Five of their series.

Former NCAA Skaters Scoring NHL Playoff Game-Winning Goals

It's been a week for game-winning goals from former NCAA players in the NHL's 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

It started on Wednesday when Craig Smith (Wisconsin) stole a loose puck from behind the Washington net just under six minutes into overtime and tucked in a wraparound to lift the Boston Bruins to a 3-2 win in Game Three of that opening-round divisional series.

On Thursday, Ryan Lomberg connected just under six minutes into sudden death to complete the Florida Panthers comeback in a 6-5 victory over in-state rival Tampa Bay to get the Panthers back into that series after they dropped the first two contests. 

It continued on Friday when Peter Stastny (Denver) scored the only goal of the game just over four minutes into OT, wristing in a screened shot to boost the Winnipeg Jets to a two games-to-none lead over Edmonton.

Finally, Alex Newhook (Boston College) fired home the game-winner from the right circle last night as the Colorado Avalanche beat St. Louis, 5-1, to take a three games-to-none lead in that series.

ADDENDUM: After replacing a broken stick, Luke Kunin (Wisconsin) raced up ice and one-timed home a pass late in the second overtime on Sunday to give the Nashville Predators a 4-3 victory over the visiting Carolina Hurricanes. The win tied that series at two games apiece.

SCSU's Dowd Strikes in Playoff Opener for Caps

Nic Dowd (St. Cloud State) made it Washington's night to open the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Dowd tipped home a slapshot by T.J. Oshie (North Dakota) just under five minutes into overtime to lift the Capitals to a 3-2 victory over the visiting Boston Bruins tonight in the opener of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. Washington leads the best-of-seven series, one game to none.

Oshie, who tallied an emotional hat trick earlier this month in a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers shortly after the passing of his father, finished the night with two assists. Charlie McAvoy (Boston University) assisted on Boston's tying goal late in the second period, which knotted the game at 2-2.

Dowd, 30, a native of Huntsville, Ala., now has two goals in 16 career Stanley Cup playoff outings, all with Washington. He tallied 52 goals and 121 points in 154 NCAA contests with St. Cloud from 2010 to 2014, and was also a First Team All-America selection as a senior captain for the Huskies.

Game Two will be Monday night in Washington, D.C.

Barr Named New Men's Hockey Coach at Maine

University of Massachusetts assistant coach Ben Barr has been named the new head men's hockey coach at the University of Maine. He becomes the fifth head coach in Maine's modern history, succeeding the late Dennis "Red" Gendron, who died last month after coaching the Black Bears since the 2013-14 season.

According to the Bangor Daily News, Barr will be paid a salary of over $235,000 on a four-year contract. It is his first head coaching position, and he will be tasked with reviving a Black Bears program that last made the NCAA tournament in 2012.

Barr, 39, from Fairbault, Minn., helped UMass to the last two NCAA title games, including a national championship victory this year over St. Cloud State, and he also was the Minutemen's primary recruiter. Prior to his tenure with UMass, which began with the 2016-17 campaign, he had served as an assistant at Union, Providence, Western Michigan and Rensselaer.

As a player, Barr skated at forward for Rensselaer from 2000 to 2004. He tallied 25 goals and 64 points in 140 games played before entering the coaching ranks.

In other college-related coaching news, the New York Rangers today released head coach David Quinn (Boston University) after three NHL seasons. Also not retained were assistants Greg Brown (Boston College) and David Oliver (Michigan).

Holy Cross last week hired longtime Quinnipiac assistant/associate Bill Riga as its new men's hockey head coach, his first position as a collegiate head coach. A former UMass Lowell player, he had served at Quinnipiac since 2008 after previously coaching at Union.

DU's Stastny Plays 1,000th NHL Game

Paul Stastny (Denver) played in his 1,000th NHL regular-season game on Tuesday night, as his Winnipeg Jets blanked Vancouver, 5-0.

Stastny, 35, the son of Hockey Hall of Fame forward Peter Stastny, was presented with a silver stick by his Winnipeg teammates prior to the game, making him the first player to be so honored in franchise history. He has recorded 263 goals and 492 assists for 755 points for Colorado, St. Louis, Winnipeg and Vegas in an NHL career that began in 2006-07. He has also recorded 25-42—67 points in 97 Stanley Cup Playoff appearances, and has never played a game in the minor leagues.

Stastny skated for two seasons at the University of Denver (2004-2006), and as a freshman helped the Pioneers to the 2005 NCAA title while personally winning WCHA Rookie of the Year accolades. In 81 career games at DU, he tallied 36-62—98 points, and earned Second Team All-America status as a sophomore after a 19-goal, 53-point campaign.

Born in Quebec, Stastny grew up in New Jersey and St. Louis, and has represented the United States in international competition on several occasions. He won a silver medal with the U.S. at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, and later helped the Americans to a bronze medal at the 2013 IIHF World Championship in Sweden.

Rathbone Gets First NHL Goal

Jack Rathbone (Harvard) has his first NHL goal.

The former Crimson defenseman slapped home his first goal in pro hockey's top league in Vancouver's 6-3 win over Edmonton on Thursday night in Alberta. His goal 4:43 into the first period gave his Canucks a 2-0 lead at the time. He had made his NHL debut two days earlier, also in Edmonton

Rathbone, 21, a 5-foot-10 native of West Roxbury, Mass. was drafted 95th overall by Vancouver in 2017 after playing with both the Cape Cod Whalers and the Dexter Southfield School. In two seasons at Harvard (2018-19, 2019-20), he collected 14 goals and 39 assists for 53 points in 61 NCAA outings. As a sophomore, he registered seven goals and 31 points in 28 games, and earned First Team All-America accolades before later turning professional after the Ivy League canceled the 2020-21 campaign last fall.

The son of former Boston College forward and New York Islanders draft choice Jason Rathbone, Jack Rathbone made his pro debut earlier this season with Utica (AHL), where he recorded 2-7—9 points in eight appearances.

UAH Suspends Hockey Program For Now

The University of Alabama-Huntsville will not play hockey during the 2021-22 season.

UAH, which went 3-18-1 this past season in its final WCHA campaign, will not play next year due to a lack of a conference affiliation. The Chargers were apparently rejected in applying to the new CCHA that will begin play this fall, and have yet to hear back from the Atlantic Hockey association.

The UAH hockey program was in danger of being dropped a year ago, but got a reprieve of at least one season after a week-long GoFundMe fundraising campaign that ultimately netted over $750,000 in private donations. The Chargers had previously faced the chopping block before, when the program was shut down temporarily in the fall of 2012 before being revived soon after.

There is no definitive timetable for Atlantic Hockey to accept UAH or not, although UAHHockey.com noted it will be at least the middle of this summer for a decision to be made. According to the university, the Chargers hockey program will be promptly reinstated if a conference home is secured.

The Chargers began life as a club program in 1979, winning three national club championships, and then had a brief foray in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics before originally joining the NCAA in 1985 as a Division II independent. UAH then moved up to Division I in 1987 before dropping down to Division II in 1992 and subsequently winning two national titles there, before returning to Division I in 1998.

Caufield Scores Second Career NHL Goal in OT

Two overtimes, two game-winning goals for Montreal Canadiens rookie forward Cole Caufield (Wisconsin).

Caufield, 20, connected 4:43 into the extra session on Monday night to lift Montreal to a 3-2 victory over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs. It was the second career NHL goal for Caufield, who tallied his first-ever goal in the league just two nights earlier when he scored 2:25 into overtime to lift the host Habs to a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators.

Caufield now has two goals in five career NHL appearances to date. He joined the Canadiens after first auditioning with Laval (AHL), where he collected two goals and an assist in five outings last month. The 5-foot-7 Stevens Point, Wisc. native was drafted 15th overall by Montreal in 2019. 

The leading scorer in NCAA Division I men's hockey this past season with 30 goals and 52 points, Caufield also won the 2021 Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey top's player. He turned pro shortly after scoring his last two collegiate goals in his final appearance with the Badgers, a 6-3 NCAA regional loss to Bemidji State on March 26. He recorded 49 goals over his two seasons at Wisconsin, and added 39 assists for 88 points in 77 career NCAA contests.

MSU's Miller Wins Final NHL Home Start

Longtime NHL goaltender Ryan Miller (Michigan State) won the final home game of his professional career.

The East Lansing, Mich. native, who will retire as an active player at the conclusion of the 2020-21 season, made 23 saves on Saturday to backstop the Anaheim Ducks to a 6-2 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Kings. The win raised Anaheim's record to 16-29-7, although the Ducks have already been eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention.

Miller, 40, is now 391-289-87 with a 2.64 goals-against average and 44 shutouts in his NHL career, which began in 2002-03 with Buffalo. After splitting his first four pro campaigns between the Sabres and their minor-league affiliate in Rochester (AHL), he moved up to the NHL for good in 2006-07, and later went on to also play for St. Louis and Vancouver. 

In Feb. 2010, Miller guided the United States to a silver medal at the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, before winning the Vezina Trophy later that year as the NHL's best goaltender after recording 41 regular-season wins. He leads all American-born NHL goaltenders in career wins, and was 28-27 in 57 career Stanley Cup playoff outings with a 2.52 GAA and three shutouts.

Drafted 138th overall by the Sabres in 1999 after starring in juniors for the Soo Indians (NAHL), with whom he won 52 games over two seasons, the 6-foot-2 Miller went on to play three seasons at Michigan State (1999-2002). A two-time First Team All-America selection, he went 73-19-12 with a 1.54 GAA in 106 career appearances with the Spartans, and still holds the NCAA record with 26 career shutouts. He also won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as college hockey's top player in 2001, the last netminder to date to claim that particular trophy, and also helped MSU to the NCAA Frozen Four that season.

UMD's Shepard Gets Shutout in First AHL Start

Hunter Shepard (Minnesota-Duluth) definitely made his first American Hockey League start one for his personal scrapbook.

The Cohasset, Minn. native and Grand Rapids High School alumnus stopped all 28 shots and six power plays he faced on Sunday afternoon, as the Hershey Bears blanked the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, 2-0, in an AHL game that was shown live on NHL Network.

The undrafted Shepard, 25, began his pro career this season with South Carolina (ECHL), where he went 6-5-2 with a 2.84 goals-against average in 14 appearances. He had originally signed a pro contract with Hershey in June.

The 6-foot-1 Shepard backstopped Minnesota-Duluth for three consecutive seasons, the last as a team captain, from 2017 to 2020. He twice earned All-America accolades and NCHC Goaltender of the Year recognition, once each as sophomore and a junior. 

In 119 career games at UMD, Shepard finished 76-37-5 with a 1.94 GAA and 17 shutouts, and also set a new NCAA record for most consecutive starts (105) by a goaltender. He also backstopped the Bulldogs to national titles in 2018 and 2019, and was poised to do so again last year before the college hockey season was canceled by COVID-19.

Michigan's Mann Turns Pro

The University of Michigan is on the lookout for a new starting goaltender, as Strauss Mann has decided to pass up his senior season to turn professional.

Mann, 22, an undrafted netminder from Greenwich, Conn., played in 77 games over the last three years at Michigan, in which he finished with a 35-30-9 record to go with a 2.14 goals-against average and 11 shutouts.

As a sophomore in 2019-20, the six-foot-tall Mann went 18-13-4 with a 1.85 GAA and six shutouts to earn Big Ten Best Goaltender and Big Ten First All-Star Team accolades, before the 2019-20 campaign was canceled by COVID-19. As a team captain this season, he helped the Wolverines to the NCAA tournament by winning 11 games, before Michigan was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to the coronavirus.

Prior to arriving at Ann Arbor in the fall of 2018, Mann played one year for Fargo (USHL), where he went 22-8-3 with five shutouts and also backstopped the Force to the Clark Cup championship.